Times Cryptic #29269

2025-06-30

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Across

1a

Heron is flying close to coast (7)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Charge leaders of illegal group infiltrating island (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

I~ G~ in ARRAN; Arran is a large Scottish island visible from both Troon and Turnberry golf courses. I played Turnberry when I was 16 – toughest course I ever encountered. I watched Tom Watson win at Troon in 1982, before watching him at Turnberry in 2007 with my daughter, as he fell agonisingly close of winning again at the age of 59.

9a

It's on course to beat audience (9)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Is returning with fresh strength (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Pop producer drops initial support for artist? (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

wEASEL; ‘Pop! Goes the Weasel’ is a popular song and country dance which found wider fame as a nursery rhyme. Years of watching Cartoon Network with aforementioned daughter implanted these alternative lyrics on my brain: ‘You don’t need pants for the victory dance / Cuz Baboon’s better than Weasel / I R Baboon big star of cartoon / I am Weasel’. You can’t make that stuff up!

12a

Drunk did some decorating (9)

flowerflowerflower
13a

The boy with no logic developed "vital" industry (13)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Apex of road unfinished? Call boat! (4-5,4)

Generating...
21a

Article with piece of advice regarding Italian food (9)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Romeo, consumed by love, is gloomy (5)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Last couple leaving fashionable site in Texas (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

A LA MOde; forever associated with Davy Crockett, the chap who offed a ‘b’ar’ when he was only three

26a

Ignorant to expel knight wearing official regalia? (9)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Track user with first-class bit of gear? (4,3)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Colonist enters mountain range mostly at a gentle pace (7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

After reorganization, the CID had a restless urge (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Insect's obsession with diluted drink? (6,3)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Play with books and magazine (7)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Male comedians wearing alien paraphernalia? (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

QUIP MEN in ET; I don’t think ‘quip men’ quite works for male comedians. The clue would have benefitted from the absence of ‘male’, but, well, you know, these days – sensibilities and all that…

5d

Cook near a stadium (5)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Dish with a bit of ginger is Ottoman (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Private tavern supported by the Queen (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Not a chance advert bores son currently (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

AD in NO WAY S (son)

14d

Friend's after short string instrument and wind instrument (9)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Islander's monkey ran off (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Farm labourer catches start of hockey game (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

H~ in PEASANT; game as in a wild food source

18d

Get rid of stated reason to look peevish? (4,3)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Robot's revolutionary make-up famous designer reverse-engineered (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

two reversals here: first DNA (‘make-up’ is ‘revolved’) then DIOR (‘famous designer’ is ‘revere-engineered’)

20d

Union member pockets building's last spanner (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

~G in BRIDE (union member)

22d

Mark 2? (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Decline small piece of sugar, say (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

S LUMP